Prof. Barry Campbell Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7407-012X

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Biography

Born 1966. B.Sc. (Hons) Zoology with Marine Zoology (UCNW Bangor UK, 1988); Ph.D. Physiology (Liverpool UK, 1991); SEDA Cert. in External Examining (Keele UK, 2010).

1985-88: BSc Honours degree in Zoology with Marine Zoology. Honours project (Dave Grove’s lab, Ocean Sciences, UCNW Bangor). My scientific career in gastrointestinal physiology began in 1997-8, investigating the endocrine regulation of upper gastrointestinal function in fish, using ex vivo organ strips and in vivo studies to examine gallbladder contraction and gastric emptying.

1988-91. As a research assistant in Liverpool, I gained my PhD in Physiology (Nov. 1991) in laboratory of Graham Dockray FRS (Physiology Laboratory, Liverpool), investigating the endocrine control of avian gastric and pancreatic function. This work involved in vivo models, feeding studies, endocrine cell isolation and culture; resulting in five full peer-review publications:

• Key publications: Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1990;1048;66-71; Am J Physiol. 1991; 261;G16-G21; Eur. J. Pharmacol. 1991; 209; 231-235; Reg. Peptides 1994;49;249-255; Eur. J. Biochem. 1995;230;439-446.

  1991-94: As MRC-funded post-doctoral fellow (working in Jon Rhodes’ lab, Dept. of Medicine, Liverpool). I developed key methods, knowledge and skills in epithelial glycobiology, investigating mucus secretory cell and mucin glycoprotiens. Studies focused on the identification of oncofetal carbohydrate structures on mucins in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, using high-pH, high performance chromatography techniques.

• Key publications: Biomed. Chromatogr. 1993;7,68-74; J. Chromatogr. 1993;622,137-146; J. Clin. Invest. 1995;95,571-76.

  1994-5: During a temporary teaching lectureship, held for 1 year as part of the Wellcome Trust-funded Leave fellowship awarded to Rod Dimaline (Physiology, Liverpool), I used molecular biology approaches to examine the regulation of GATA transcription factors in the gastrointestinal epithelium.

• Key publication: Gastroenterology 1997;112,1559-1567.

  1995-2003: Appointed to a full-time academic position (Medicine, Liverpool), my independent research led to specific understanding of causes and consequences of the altered mucosal glycosylation that occurs in colorectal inflammation and neoplasia. Pioneering observations demonstated changes in mucosal carbohydrate structures resulting from altered Golgi acidification and action of cytokines. Techniques including 2-D and ex vivo tissue explants culture. I was also member of the EU Concerted Action consortium ‘Mucins in the pathophysiology of inflammatory diseases of the bronchial & gastrointestinal epithelia’ (1998-2001).

• Key publications: Methods Molecular Biology 1998;76,161-182; Glycobiology 2001,11,385-93; Glycoconjugate J. 2001,18,851-8; Trends in Molecular Medicine 2002,8,10-16; Glycobiology 2006;16:594-601.

  2003-2008: Appointed to Senior Lecturer (Clinical Science, Liverpool) research focused on examination of how aberrant glycosylation could drive altered recruitment of mucosa-associated adherent bacteria seen in increased numbers in patients with Crohn’s disease and colon cancer, in particular Adherent, Invasive E. coli (AIEC). Established as one of the key international teams leading research into the host mechanisms within epithelial cells and macrophages relevant to interaction with these E. coli in Crohn’s disease (and more recently in colitis-associated colorectal cancer).

• Key Publications: Gastroenterology 2004; 127, 80-93; Gastroenterology 2007; 133:1487-98; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2008; 14:162-75; Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapeutics 2008; 52:427-34; Microbiology 2008; 154:571-83;

  2009-2013: Appointment as Reader in Gastroenterology (Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool; 2009).

• Key Publications: Nature Medicine 2010; 16:90-7; Gut 2010; 59:1331-9; Gut 2010 60: 26-33; J. Bacteriol. 2011; 193:4540-1; J.Clin.Invest. 2011; 121:966-75; Gut 2011; 60: 26-33; Science 2012; 338: 120-3.

  2013: Promotion to Full Professor - Personal Chair in Gastrointestinal Physiology & Translational Medicine (Liverpool; Oct 2013).

  2013-2020: Professor in Molecular & Cellular Physiology (Institute of Translational Medicine; Liverpool; Oct 2013- May 2020).

• Key Publications: J. Nutri. Biochem. 2013, 24:97-103; Disease Models & Mechanisms 2013; 6:1388-99; PLoS ONE 2014, 9(2): e87658; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2014; 20(11):1919-32; Gut 2014, 63: 761–770; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2015; 21(7):1499-510; Aliment. Pharmacol. Therapeut. 2015, 42(2):158-79; Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 2018, 53(6):677-684; PLoSONE 2018, 13(10):e0202460; Cell Tiss. Res. 2019, 375:409–424; Scientific Reports 2019, 9: 193; Pathogens 2019, 8: 74; Scientific Reports 2019, 9: 9328; Frontiers in Cellular & Infection Microbiology 2019, 9:30; Frontiers in Immunology 2019; 10: 2168; Nutrition Bulletin 2019, 44: 329; Cell Death & Disease 2019, 10: 896.

  2020-present: Professor in Infection Biology & Microbiomes (Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences; Liverpool; May 2020 -present).

• Key Publications: Aliment. Pharmacol. Therapeut. 2020; 51(12), 1268-1285; Disease Models & Mechanisms 2020, 13(11):dmm044040; Cell Biochem. Function 2021, 39(3):401-412; Current Pharmaceutical Design 2021, doi: 10.2174/1381612827666210218141847; Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7):3646; Frontiers in Immunology 2021, 12:690817; Gut Microbes 2021, 13(1) DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1930871; Frontiers in Pharmacology 2021, 12:766293; Biomedicines 2022, 10(4):757; Biology 2022, 11(10):1377; Biology 2023, 12(2):280; Access Microbiology 2024, 6: 000754.v3; Epigenetics Reports 2024; 2(1):1-14

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  Current Research

  

  The Campbell lab is engaged with work understanding of enteric bacteria interaction, internalisation and translocation across the intestinal epithelium and microfold (M)-cells of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying Peyer’s patches. Of particular interest is the interactions of adherent, invasive E. coli (AIEC) in the inflamed epithelium, including identifying key receptors for AIEC that target interaction, internalization and translocation, and their internalisation and survival within mucosal macrophages. In addition, we are examining host immune cell responses, and the changes in, and implications of, altered microbiome and mycobiome in various conditions, including Crohn’s disease, and an investigating the impact of fungi on bacterial microbiota and their interaction with phagocytic leucocytes. Our work further examines various therapeutic agents blocking pathogen-host interactions, including probiotics, vaccines, anti-inflammatory agents and intracellular environment modifying agents. The potential of soluble dietary fibres (non-starch polysaccharides) in the treatment of infective diarrhoeas caused by Salmonella, ETEC and C. difficile has also been studied. We have also been providing key insight into the mechanisms through which certain bacteria inhabitant of the intestinal microbiota could have an implication in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer (CRC). Discovery of novel actions for microbes in the development of CRC may lead to translational interventions to modulate microbial composition and prevent tumour development, including prebiotic, probiotic and ‘contrabiotic’ (dietary supplementation with soluble plant fibre) strategies. Our group utilises state-of-art imaging (confocal, confocal endomicroscopy and electron microscopy) of infected intestinal mucosa in vitro cell-line and primary cultures, in 3-D organotypic/organoid ‘mini gut’ models, ex vivo tissue and in vivo to look at enteric bacteria interactions, and more recently parasite interactions (including Toxoplasma and Crytosporidium). This work also includes ultrastructural analysis of key interactions with specific gut cells using high-resolution 3D-EM. We can also examine key signal pathway involvement in inflammation, infection and oncogenic responses, and to screen therapeutic agents using reporter cell-line and reporter organoids.

Recent Research Funding/

Exploration of the NFkappaB and LRH-1 transcription factor pathways in the maintenance of gut mucosal health, inflammation and infection - Erasmus+ programme - Student Mobility Traineeship (2024-2025; Visiting Research scholar from Democratus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, Greece)

                        

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Research Network affliations

European Network for Gastro-Intestinal Health Research 2010-2014

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Linda Thomas/GMfH (2021). Complete Nutrition Vol.21 • No.4 • June 2021 Commercial Gut Microbiome Testing

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Technical approaches used by this laboratory

• Microbiome/Microbiota studies
• Bacteria-host interactions: Adhesion, invasion, M cell translocation and cell signalling assays (incl. kinases and G-proteins).
• Bacterial adhesin-glycoconjugate interactions.
• Gastrointestinal epithelial cell culture and modelling: 3-D Organoid and organotypic culture. M-cell culture and 2-D transwell cultures.
• Immunohistochemistry and molecular biological techniques
• Nutrient-epithelium actions
• In vivo confocal/multi-photon microscopy.
• Electron miscroscopy - TEM, SEM, 3View and array tomography.
• Ex vivo metabolic studies on isolated intestinal tissue explants.
• Protein and glycoprotein purification (FPLC, ion exchange and affinity chromatography).
• Mucus barrier analysis, mucus glycoprotein purification and MUC gene expression (including real-time qPCR)
• O-linked and N-linked oligosaccharide analysis (HPLC, HP-TLC and HPAEC-PAD).
• Lectin-carbohydrate interactions.

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Research prizes/awards

Cellular & Molecular Physiology PGR Symposium 2016 (Hliton@Liverpool One, UK) - Fri 10th June 2016

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Teaching and Administration

• The Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching, University of Liverpool, UK (2002 - Winner), (2007 - Nominated) and (2009 - Nominated)

School of Medicine

• Year 1 MBChB - Gastrointestinal system module lead (2014-present)
• Year 2 MBChB - Gastroenterology module lead (2015-present)
• Standards setting Boards for Year 1 and Year 2 (2003-present)
• Year 2 MBChB Director of Studies (Curriculum & Assessment) (2003-2009)
• School of Medicine Board of Studies (2003-2019)
• Board of Examiners Year 1 MBChB (2003-2019)
• Board of Examiners Year 2 MBChB (2003-2019)
• Personal tutor/University Academic Advisor - Year 1 and Year 2 MBChB students (1998-2012/2012-present)

Teaching Year 1 MBChB - Gastrointestinal System block lead:

• Lecture 1 - Overview of Digestion
• Lecture 6 - I've got that gut feeling - motility in the GI tract
• Lecture 7 - How do we stomach our food?
• Lecture 13 - Gut fluid balance - intestinal secretion & absorption
• Lecture 14 - How the gut protects itself
• Lecture 15 - Nutrient sensing
• Lecture 16 - Introduction to the gut microbiota
• Case-based learning (CBL) - 2 tutor groups
• Review Lectures (x 3)- Learning outcomes, CBL, Block Assessment

Teaching Year 2 MBChB: - Gastroenterology module Non-clinical lead:

• Gastroenterology module lecture: Lecture -'Alcohol's trip through the body'
• Foundation block 3 module lecture: Lecture -'Inflammation & Cancer'
• Case-based learning (CBL) - 2 tutor groups
• Review Lectures (x 3)- Learning outcomes, CBL, Block Assessment
• Graduate entry review tutorial session 1 (2h; Y1 GI Lectures 1-8)
• Graduate entry review tutorial session 2 (2h; Y1 GI Lectures 12-16)

School of Dentistry

Teaching Year 1 Dentistry BDS:

• Module 3: GORD - Overview of digestion
• Module 3: GORD - Protection of the digestive system
• Module 4: Who decided it was bad to be fat - The endocrine pancreas

Involvement in Faculty PGR

• Master in Research (MRes) in Advanced Biological Sciences - Research Projects.
• Master in Research (MRes) in Biomedical Sciences programme - 'Physiology' & 'Gastroenterology' strands; Frontiers in Research lecture & Journal Club and Research Projects.
• 4 year PhD programme in Cellular & Molecular Physiology Frontiers in Research lecture & Journal Club and Research Projects.
• Academic mentor for Faculty Higher Degree students (MPhil/MD/PhD)
• Interim Director of Postgraduate Research - Institute of Translational Medicine(PhD/MD/MPhil) 2018-2019 (covering illness/retirement)
• Director of Postgraduate Research for Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology (PhD/MD/MPhil) 2015-2020
• Director of Postgraduate Research for Department of Gastroenterology (PhD/MD/MPhil) 2012-2015
• PGR Progression talk conference organiser (The Hilton, Liverpool One) - 2015-2019 (2020 cancelled due to COVID-19)

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Memberships

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And now for something different....

61st Annual UoL Staff Cricket Tour to Cambridge

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Publications